Chelsea Ross
Picture this. You are walking your dog on a cold evening when your keys drop from your fingers. You stoop down to pick up your keys. Your dog, spotting a chance, comes to lick your face. You indulge him a bit. When it’s time to get going, you want to get up, and then you spot it — a wet nose. Your dog has a wet nose. You’ve never seen it before, so you start to panic. Is he sick? Did something happen to him? Is he about to kiss you goodbye?
Relax. Your dog will be just fine. There are a lot of reasons, none of which has been specially found out. But research has shown that the wet nose helps. It is one of the reasons why they can smell very far. Smelling is like the lifeblood of dogs. It is how they feel and how they can identify you. They literally sniff out danger. Can you imagine that? What else can they sniff? Territory. Yes, you heard that right. Dogs can mark boundaries, and they sniff out these territories.
What Can My Dog Sniff?
Dogs have as many as 100 million sensory receptors in the nasal cavity. In contrast, humans have only six million. Sensory receptors are very tiny parts of the nervous system that picks up the smell and sends them to the brain. In this case, it’s the more, the merrier. As creatures that depend on their nose, this is an excellent adaptation.
Your dog can sniff and tell the difference in just about anything. He has a powerful nose that lets him tell the difference even between twins! Your dog can easily detect it when danger is near, or when someone friendly is near.
In some medical institutions, detecting cancer can be as simple as letting a dog sniff your breath. Now, hold on a bit, lol. Don’t try this with your dog at home yet. This is a role that dogs are specially trained for. We already know that the police use dogs to sniff out drugs and even detect bombs. So you see, a wet nose is an advantage.
Why Is My Dog’s Nose Wet?
Dogs have an internal mechanism used to keep the nose wet. There is a mucous layer in the nose that secretes mucus, just how you rub your cream. The mucous secreted spreads wetness in the nose. This wet nose helps them cool down and prevent temperature rise. As against a wet nose, a dry nose should give you a reason to worry.
Have you ever seen your dog stretch his long tongue to lick his nose? Yuck! This is another reason why a dog would have a wet nose. When they breathe, there are a lot of things that fly in the air. Nasal cavities can trap these particles. Dogs have olfactory glands at the roof of their mouths that help them control the interpretation of smell. When particles are trapped in the nasal cavity, your dog licks his nose to determine what he is smelling. The olfactory glad tells them what is around them when they rub their tongues with the particles.
Can A Wet Nose Mean Something Bad?
Sometimes, an extremely wet nose can signify that your dog is in trouble. A sick dog can have a wet nose too. A dog suffering from cold can have a wet nose. If you are noticing the wet nose for the first time, we recommend visiting the vet. Most of the time, you won’t notice that your dog’s nose is wet. This is because it’s natural and fits. If it gets to the point when you notice it, or it looks excessive, you should act.
Conclusion
The nose of a dog is essential. It is how they survive and make meaning of the things around them. It is how they know you are on the other side of the door, even when you are tiptoeing. It would be best if you didn’t judge your dog’s health on whether they have a wet or dry nose. If you feel that something is wrong with your dog, you should check with the veterinarian to be sure that there’s nothing wrong.